Morocco faces key player absences ahead of World Cup debut vs. Brazil

Morocco's national soccer team is grappling with significant player absences just days before their 2026 World Cup debut against Brazil. Key players Abde Ezzalzouli, Noussair Mazraoui, and Anass Salah Eddine are sidelined due to injuries, casting a shadow over the team's preparations.

Ezzalzouli, a winger, suffered a knee injury during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Norway and is undergoing medical tests to determine the extent of the damage. He had to be helped off the field by medical staff. Mazraoui, a defender, also sustained an injury in the match against Norway. The absence of the Manchester United defender presents a challenge for coach Mohamed Ouahbi, especially since his potential replacement, PSV Eindhoven fullback Anass Salah Eddine, is also out with an injury that has kept him from recent training sessions.

With Mazraoui and Salah Eddine potentially unavailable, Al-Ahly defender Youssef Belammari is the sole left-back option for the match against Brazil. Moroccan media reports suggest that Ouahbi plans to keep Ezzalzouli with the squad, hoping for his recovery for a later group stage match or the knockout phase. Meanwhile, defender Nayef Aguerd, who has been out since March due to surgery, participated in training on Wednesday.